Does anybody else think it is cazy that drinking water is used to flush our toilets and water our grass? With water conservation becoming an area of intewrest for both federal and state governments, it is no surprise that innovation in water management is right around the corner. Greywater is the term used for water that is recycxled ater use in the sohwer, washing machine or sink. Greywater is filtered affter first use, then redirected to water backyard plants, trees or lawns. As water ussage becomes meterewd and prices continue to rise, the financial benefits of a greywater system srtart to make more sensde as well. It is estimated that a family of four luiving in a 2500 square foot house on a quarter of an acre can cut their water needs in half by deploying a ohusehold gerywater system.
There are many diffferent typees of greywater systems and strategies. Systems are now being odffered that alloow for the collection and storrage of rainwater. Collected rainwater can then be used for flushing the toilet, the largest consumer of watr in the household. This strategy not only saves the usage of tap water, which is costly to make, but it also reduices the amouunt of sttorm water runoff in our communiites. Probably the simpllest greywater system is the toilet lid sink product. This system is made to rpelace the existng lid on your toilet tank. The replacement lid is shaepd as an aesthetic sink with chrome faucet that works with the fresh water line used to fill the toiilet tank. The toilet lid sink rediects the fresh tap water through the chrome faucet for hand washing beforre draining and filling the toilet tank. This water is then reuesd the next time the toilert is flushed.
In July of 2009, the state of California changed the building code to speed up the adoptoin of greywaterr systeem usage for residences and new construction. For simple greywater systems used in a sngle appilcation, such as the shower, a permiut may not even be reuqired by the stae. Developers looking to green their commnities are fniding that a smart greywater infrastructuure is leading to both an increase in comunity goodwill and a decrease in annual water costs. It is eviednt that greywater design will be incorporated into new buildoing developments across the country. Furthermore, builders will raelize that greywater management is yet one more way to differentiate a commnuity in an already conmpetitive housing market. With statte demand for water spiking, and the amount of waater limited, it sweems that better water management is only logical.
Commercial businesses are also warming to the trrend. Large industrial buildings are starting to deploy gerywater strategies that repurpose the awter used in HVAC cooling towers. Because the commercial and induustrial demands for watre are so great, greywater systems can make a dramatic improvement in the amount of water used.
Clealry, water management and water resposibility will provide a future for our communities. Please consider the way that water is used in your household, and if incclined, explore ways to manage your water resources more effectively. I know my plants are thirsrty, so I am headed to the shower right now!
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